Paper cutter



4, 1965 w. T. SOLLY 3,201,868

PAPER CUTTER Filed July 10, 1963 INVENTOR WALTER T. SOLLY United States Patent 3,201,868 PAPER CUTTER Walter T. Sully, 215 Riverdale Ave., Cornwall, Dntario, Qauada Filed July 10, 1963, Ser. No. 294,016 4 Claims. (Cl. 30289) This invention relates to improvements in a paper cut ter and appertains particularly to one designed to use a thin replaceable cutter blade such as a conventional double-edge razor blade.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple cutter that will slit paper along a straight fold line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paper cutter in which the cutter blade is sheathed at all times between lateral guards.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paper cutter with a straight edge guide for sliding engagement by the fold in the paper where the slit is to be made, the guide being disposed at an angle to the cutting edge of the blade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paper cutter in which the blade protecting side members or lateral guards are transparent to allow observation of the engaging and cutting operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheathed blade paper cutter in which the side guards or casing sub-assembly and the blade-carrying, spacer-guide sub-assembly are readily separated and reassembled and a blade easily and quickly replaced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a paper cutter of the character and for the purpose described that is efficient, fast, simple and safe to use and is capable of manufacture at low cost whereby the same is rendered commercially desirable.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly described when reference is had to the drawings forming a part of this disclosure wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

,7 In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cutter;

FIGURE 2 is a rear edge view thereof;

FIGURES 3, 4 and are an edge view; side view; and end view respectively of the blade-carrying, spacer-guide sub-assembly;

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are similarly front edge, side and end view respectively of the guard cover or casing subassembly; and

FIGURES 9 and are inside elevations of the two halves of a modified, two-piece, molded form of cutter.

Though comprising essentially a separable assembly of a blade holder, that also serves as a spacer block and an angularly disposed guide for the paper edge, and a casing, in which the blade is at all times sheathed, the preferred embodiment of the cutter, illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 8 inclusive, is made up of layers of sheet plastic and for purposes of clarity will be so described.

The blade holder sub-assembly, shown separately in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 comprises a registering pair of thin plastic plates 1 and 2 of quadrangular shape, each with parallel sides a and b, a rear edge 0 at right angles thereto and a front edge a lying at an angle of 45 degrees. A pair of elongated rectangular cross bars 3 and 4 of slightly thicker plastic plate extend transversely of the rear of the quadrangular plates, flush with the rear edge c thereof 3,201,868 Ice Patented Aug. 24, 1965 but projecting beyond the side a, where the gap between them is taken up with a two-ply filler block 5 cemented in place. A pair of transverse rivets 6 and 7 secure the parts of this holder sub-assembly. Approximately in the center of the substantially 45 degree triangular part of the plates 1 and 2 extending beyond the rear end cross bars 3 and 4, the plates each have a perforation 8 that are in registry. A cutter blade such as a conventional doubleedge razor blade is insertable between the plates 1 and 2 with one edge substantially flush with the longer side a and one end of the blade reaching to the line at the inside edge of the transverse end bars 3 and 4, in which position an enlargement of the longitudinal slot in the blade registers with the laigned perforations 8.

The casing sub-assembly, shown separately in FIG URES 6, 7 and 8 consists of a companion pair of quadrangular shaped side plates 9 and it) having parallel sides 1 and g, a rear edge 11 at right angles thereto and an angularly disposed front edge i; being thus similar in shape to the holder plates 1 and 2 but almost twice as long and of a width corresponding to the length of the cross bars 3 and 4. An elongated separator block 11 is disposed between the casing side plates, running along the side flush therewith from the back edge [1 for about one-half the length of t. is long side and having its forward edge k disposed at a 45 degree angle to the said long side f. The thickness of the block 11 corresponds with the combined thickness of the pair of blade holder plates 1 and 2 and serves to space the casing side plates in parallel planes a proper distance to allow the insertion of the triangular part of the holder plates therebetween. A pair of spaced rivets 12 and 13 along the rear half of the side hold the casing sub-assembly together. Intermediate the sides 1 and g and near the rear edge h, the plates 9 and 10 each have a perforation 14 that are aligned, that in plate 10 being interiorly threaded, these perforations registering with the perforations 8 in the holder plates 1 and 2 when the casing and holder sub-assemblies are put together. Additionally, each casing side plate 9 and 10 has an opening 15 registering with the front inside corner of the separator block ill.

In assembling the cutter, a razor blade 16 is inserted in the holder between the plates 1 and 2 as already mentioned and the holder sub-assembly slipped in between the spaced sides of the casing until the cross bars 3 and 4 abut the rear edge 11 of the casing sides 9 and 10 and the side b is aligned with the side g, in which position the perforations 8 in the holder plates and the perforations 14 in the casing sides are in axial alignment when a screw I7 is inserted therein and threadedly engages the perforation in plate 10. In this position the angularly disposed front ends k and d of the casing separator block 11 and the holder plates 1 and 2 respectively are aligned and at their meeting point the cutting edge of the blade 16 projects forwardly being disposed at an angle of 45 degrees thereto.

As will be seen on reference to FIGURE 1, the pair of similar casing plates are of sufficient length to project beyond the free end of the blade and of a width to extend beyond the side thereof opopsite the designated cutting edge that runs along the inside of the separator block 11 so that the blade 16 is safely sheathed at all times and lies in a plane parallel to and midway between the spaced cas ing plates that serve it as lateral guards and is in turn separated from the inner face of each casing plate or side guard a distance equal to the thickness of one of the holder plates 1 or 2.

To better guide the folded edge of the material to be slit to the cutting edge of the blade 16, the angularly disposed edge I: of the casing separator block 11 has a groove 18 running longitudinally on its median, leading right to the cutting edge of the blade. The casing side In use, as

the cutting operation produces any dust or fine particles generated will find escape or discharge through the con veniently accessible openings 15 in each side plate.

Briefly then, the device may be deemed to consist of a pair of laterally spaced side members with .a constantly sheathed blade mounted therebetween in spaced relation 7 to both said side members and in a plane substantially parallel with each.

Otherways of fabricating the cutter may be selected, e.g., the article could be made of plastic molded in two laterally'separable halves 20 and 21, as shown in FIG- URES 9 and 10; an elongated tongue 22 projecting from the side half 20 serving to position the razor blade, indifastening means passing through the casing, holder and blade; the casing side members being longer than said holder and blade and serving torconstantly sheath the holder-carried blade mounted therebetween in parallel and spaced relation thereto.

2. A paper cutter comprising a casing having a pair of laterally spacedjside members and a separator block secured therebetween'along part of one side; a blade holder including a-pair of parallel plates, etween which a blade may be inserted,,removably disposed in said casing between the side members thereof, the plates of said holder being of a combined thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the separator block of said casing and having a width corresponding withthe distance from the separator blockito' the opposite side of the casing, said holder, having an elongated bar externally of said plates on each side across one end thereof, said bars being of a length and thickness corresponding substantially with the width. and thickness of the spaced side members of said casing and'designed to abut and be coextensive with a the outer side of said casing at one end thereof; a razor cated in dotted line M23, and engaging in a companion slot, 24 in'the other side half 21 in tight frictional or snap-in fit. 7 Otherwise the formation and relative assembly of the essential parts are comparable. If desired, the

companion halves or blade guards may be provided with corresponding or registering marginal-slots 25, extending inwards beyond a cutting edge of the blade and'disposed angularly with respect thereto. t

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be manifest that a paper cutter'is provided that will fulfill all the necessary requirements of such a device, butas many changes 'could be made in the above description and many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention maybe constructed within the scope of the appended clairns, without departing fromthe spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all mattersfcontained in the said accornpanying specification-and drawings shall be'interpreted' as illustrative and not in a, limitative or restrictive sense;

What is claimed as new is:

1. A paper cutter comprising a casing having a pair of laterally spaced side members and a separator block secured therebetween along part of one side; a blade holder including a pair of parallel plates, between which a blade may be inserted, removably disposed in said casing between the side. members thereof, the plates of blade positioned between the plates of said holder and projecting in part beyond the edge thereof opposite said elongated end barsand said edge of said holder plates lying at an angle to. the projecting cutting edge of the blade; and afastening means passing through the casing, holder and blade; thecasing side members being longer than said holder and blade and serving to constantly jsheath the holder-carriedblade vmounted therebetween in parallel and spaced relation thereto;

3. A paper cutter according to claim 2, wherein one end of the casing separator block is aligned With the angular edgeof the blade holder and has a groove therein leading to the; cutting edge of the blade that projects from the holder substantially where the aligned end of the separatoryblock adjoins the blade holder.

' 4.'A paper cutter according to claim 2, wherein one I end of the casing separator block is aligned with the angular edge of the blade holder .andhas a groove therein leading to the cutting edge of the blade that projects from the holder substantially where the aligned end of I thesep aratori block adjoins theblade holder and wherein the side members of the casing each have an opening sub- P stantially in registry with the point at which the cutting said holder being of a combined thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the separator block of said casing and having a width corresponding with the distance from the separator block to the opposite side of the casing,

said holder having an elongated bar externally of said I plates on each side across one end thereof, said' bars being of a length and thickness corresponding, substantially with the width and thickness of the spaced side members of said casing and designed to abut and be ccextensive with the outer side of said casing at one end thereof; a razor blade positioned between the plates of said holder and projecting in part therebeyond; and a edge of the blade projects from the holder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/12 Sinnott 30-289 -2,050,439 8/36 Marx 30-332 X 2,187,634 1/40 Soderlind 30-289 2,298,024 "10/ 42 Vallarelli -5 30-294 2,360,652 .10/44 Cummings 30-286 2,442,694 6/48 'Keiser 30-289 "3,068,569 -12/62 'Campbell a V 30-294 WILLIAM" FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. M. HENSON WOOD'QJR Examiner. 

1. A PAPER CUTTER COMPRISING A CASING HAVING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED SIDE MEMBERS AND A SEPARATOR BLOCK SECURED THEREBETWEEN ALONG PART OF ONE SIDE; A BLADE HOLDER INCLUDING A PAIR OF PARALLEL PLATES, BETWEEN WHICH A BLADE MAY BE INSERTED, REMOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAID CASING BETWEEN THE SIDE MEMBERS THEREOF, THE PLATES OF SAID HOLDER BEING OF A CCOMBINED THICKNESS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF THE SEPARATOR BLOCK OF SAID CASING AND HAVING A WIDTH CORRESPONDING WITH THE DISTANCE FROM THE SEPARATOR BLOCK TO THHE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CASING SAID HOLDER HAVING AN ELONGATD BAR EXTERNALLY OF SAID PLATES ON EACH SIDE ACROSS ONE END THEREOF, SAID BARS BEING OF A LENGTH AND THICKNESS CORRESPONDING SUBSTANTIALLY WITH THE WIDTH AND THICKNESS OF THE SPACED SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID CASING AND DESIGNED TO ABUT AND BE COEXTENSIVE WITH THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID CASING AT ONE END THEREOF; A RAZOR BLADE POSITIONED BETWEENT THE PLATES OF SAID HOLDER AND PROJECTING IN PART THEREBEYOND; AND A FASTENING MEANS PASSING THHROUGH THE CASING, HOLDER AND BLADE; THE CASING SIDE MEMERS BEING LONGER THAN SAID HOLDER AND BLADE AND SERVING TO CONSTANTLY SHEATH THE HOLDER-CARRIED BLADE MOUNTED THEREBETWEEN IN PARALLE AND SPACED RELATION THERETO. 